Ibrahim Shema, the former governor of Katsina state, has officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a significant political move after his tenure with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Shema, who served as governor of Katsina from 2007 to 2015 under the PDP, made his allegiance shift known by registering at the Shema ward party office in Dutsin-ma LGA.
He was issued an APC membership card by Sani Aliyu-Daura, the APC chair in Katsina. The membership card bears the serial number 26551, according to reports from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Jabiru Abdullahi-Tasuri, chief of staff to Dikko Radda, the current governor of Katsina, presented the APC membership card to Shema on behalf of his principal during the event on Thursday.
Speaking at the occasion, Abdullahi-Tasuri described Shema’s defection as a “momentous achievement” for the APC, emphasizing the historic significance of welcoming a prominent figure from the opposition party.
“This marks a historic shift in the political landscape of the state. The defection is a homecoming and a reunion with political family members,” Abdullahi-Tasuri remarked.
In response, Shema expressed his commitment to contributing to the development of Katsina state and Nigeria at large, citing his decision to join the APC as a strategic move toward advancing the welfare of the people.
Shema’s entrance into the APC comes amidst notable political developments in Katsina, where the state government led by Aminu Masari announced in 2023 the withdrawal of an N11 billion fraud suit against the former governor.
